Inactives: 49ers' Lynch, Dial out vs Dolphins

Inactives: 49ers' Lynch, Dial out vs Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Wide receiver Torrey Smith will return to action, but the 49ers will not have either outside linebacker Aaron Lynch or defensive lineman Quinton Dial available Sunday to face the Miami Dolphins.

Smith missed the first game of his six-year NFL career last week due to a shoulder injury. Smith ranks fifth on the 49ers with 17 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

Cornerback Jimmie Ward, who sustained a concussion last week against the New England Patriots, cleared the NFL's return-to-play concussion protocol and will play in the game.

Lynch has been ruled out for the fourth consecutive game due to a high-ankle sprain. Lynch has appeared in just three games this season. He served a four-game suspension to begin the season for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse.

Eli Harold will start in place of Lynch, while Tony Jerod-Eddie gets the call to replace Dial in the starting lineup, the 49ers announced. The 49ers enter the game with the league's 32nd-ranked defense.

Dial saw limited practice time this week due to knee and neck issues. He was listed as questionable before the 49ers made the decision 90 minutes prior to game time to deactivate him.

Defensive lineman Chris Jones and safety Vinnie Sunseri, newly promoted from the practice squad, will make their season debuts with the 49ers. Jones, a four-year veteran, was claimed off waivers from the Dolphins on Nov. 8.

The Dolphins will not have three of their starting offensive linemen available for Sunday’s game. Left tackle Branden Albert (wrist), left guard Laremy Tunsil (shoulder) and center Mike Pouncey (hip) were all announced as inactive for the game.

There have been few surprises, according to 49ers general manager John Lynch.

The obvious issues through 10 games of the season have not exactly prompted the team to rip up its plan for the future and re-organize its list of needs. Instead, the 49ers appear to have confirmed what it already suspected.

“I think it’s just been crystalized,” Lynch told NBC Sports Bay Area on the 49ers Insider Podcast, which you can download Tuesday.

“One thing these struggles have shown us very clearly, and what leaves me very encouraged where we’re going because we have a great understanding where we’re a little bit short, where we need to improve the talent of this team.”

The team’s most glaring weakness is with the pass rush, where the 49ers have DeForest Buckner as one of the NFL’s top interior players. The 49ers have generated no consistent pressure from their edge rushers.

The team’s personnel department is currently working on evaluations of the potential free-agent class at all positions, Lynch said.

“We’ve been focused on what’s going to be the free-agent class in 2019,” Lynch said. “We’ll be aggressive in that. And then we got to continue to make our draft choices matter and have an impact.”

The 49ers are currently $36.5 million under the salary cap. That unspent cap money will roll over into next year, where the 49ers are expected to have nearly $70 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com.

The Kansas City Chiefs' Dee Ford could be the top edge rusher on the unrestricted market, if he is not locked up before the start of the March signing period. Ford, 27, has nine sacks, one of which came in Week 3 against the 49ers.

Ziggy Ansah (Detroit Lions), Jadeveon Clowney (Houston Texans), Demarcus Lawrence (Dallas Cowboys) and Dante Fowler (Los Angeles Rams) are among a list of other pass rushers who are scheduled for free agency. The 49ers made a recent bid to sign Bruce Irvin, a source told NBC Sports Bay Area, before he signed a deal for the remainder of the season with the Atlanta Falcons.

Nearly two months after the start of NFL free agency, the 49ers will have the opportunity to add some young talent in the draft.

If the 49ers’ slide continues, they will have the No. 1 overall pick. The top selection could be former Ohio State pass rusher Nick Bosa, who opted not to play this season in order to allow an injury to his core to fully heal before entering the 2019 NFL draft.

Edge rushers Clelin Ferrell (Clemson) and Josh Allen (Kentucky) could also be options within the top five or 10 of the NFL draft.

The 49ers could also seek big-money help at other areas of need, including the defensive backfield and wide receiver, where the options do not appear as plentiful.

Cornerbacks Bradley Roby (Denver) and Ronald Darby (Philadelphia) could be attractive on the free-agent market.

One big name who could be available for a trade is cornerback Jalen Ramsey, whom the Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to shop on the trade market, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. But Ramsey would come at considerable risk, along with the price tag of draft picks and a possible new contract.

Jameis Winston gets start at QB for the Bucs in Week 12 against 49ers

Jameis Winston gets start at QB for the Bucs in Week 12 against 49ers

Jameis Winston got the starting nod as the Bucs quarterback in Week 12 when the team takes on the 49ers on Sunday, the team confirmed Monday.

The Buccaneers have confirmed that Jameis Winston will return to the starting lineup in Week 12. HC Dirk Koetter declined to reveal that earlier at his press conference because he hadn't yet spoken with Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The 24-year-old came off the bench in the second half of the Bucs' 38-35 loss to the Giants in Week 10. But prior to that, he hasn't touched a football as a starter since Week 8. He's replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick who threw three interceptions to the Giants which included a pick-six. So this isn't exactly a surprise.

Still, the 49ers are coming off a bye week and Winston could make some mistakes. It's up to the defense to take advantage of any confidence the Bucs' offense might be lacking. And while Winston isn't one to crumble under pressure, San Francisco has ample opportunity to impose and get some turnovers -- those can be the game changers and result in a much-needed win for the team.

Overall, this season, Winston has accumulated 11 interceptions and eight touchdowns in five games and compiled a 1-2 record.